BRITISH SPEEDWAY DECEMBER 1, 2022
Feature photos by: Judy Mackay
(SPEEDWAY 1)
AUSSIE REW FOR IPSWICH
IPSWICH have completed a move for highly-rated Australian Under-21 Champion Keynan Rew to make his UK debut in 2023.
The 19-year-old has raced regularly in Poland in recent years and says he has had positive conversations with Witches No.1 Jason Doyle about the Foxhall club.
Rew said: “Me and Doyley are pretty good friends, we speak regularly, and he told me Ipswich is the place to be, that it is very professionally run and never a problem there. He helped me to make it happen and talked me into going.
“From what I have seen and heard, it is a very professional club and the management were great to deal with.
“When I started to speak to Chris (Louis), he made it very easy and simple to get a contract done, which made life simple and made me excited to join the team.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BIRMINGHAM have pulled off a powerhouse signing with Aussie ace Nick Morris joining as their brand-new No.1.
The 28-year-old has been one of the Championship’s top performers in recent seasons and became available following Leicester’s step-up to the top-flight last month, having finished the campaign with the Lions on an average of 10.13.
Brummies co-promoter Laurence Rogers said: “Nick is what I’d describe as an out-and-out No.1 in the Championship.
“Particularly last season, as a team we got ourselves into a great position of getting something out of a lot of meetings.
“But when it came to Heats 13 and 15, that’s where it was often lost for us, and as a club we knew that was something we had to try and put right. “Nick doesn’t know what pressure is – he’s shown his class at this level, as well as in the Premiership, for a number of years now and he’ll be a match winner for us on a number of occasions I’m sure.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BRITISH Final Championship runner-up Tom Brennan will be back with Glasgow for a second full season at Ashfield next year.
Brennan will join Danish racer Benjamin Basso in remaining with the Tigers from the 2022 campaign.
The club will also hand a Championship debut to youngster Ace Pijper, who impressed in the NDL with Berwick this year.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SCUNTHORPE have announced the return of Simon Lambert, whose latest spell with the club dates back to midway through the 2019 season. Lambert was awarded the captaincy last year, when the Scorpions reached the Championship play-offs, and was again solid in the middle order in the campaign just ended. Promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I don’t think the news that Simon Lambert will again be part of our club in 2023 will surprise anyone.
“We know what we’re getting with Simon. He wants Scunthorpe Speedway to be successful as much as I do. He really wants to win a league title – and he wants to win it with us. When we get beaten, I feel it and I know Simon does too.
“He’s a very good captain, because he’s always motivated and is keen to make sure the rest of the side is too. He is popular with our fans, because they can see that he’s giving everything for the club.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
POOLE have released skipper Danny King as they look to rebuild their line-up to defend the Championship title next season.
King led the Pirates to back-to-back league and KO Cup doubles in the last two years, but misses out on a Wimborne Road return in 2023. Promoter Danny Ford said: “I am absolutely devastated to have to let Danny go, but it was a decision that had to be made on numbers alone.
“I can assure Poole fans that there has been no falling out with Danny, and indeed we are hopeful that he will return to us at some point in the future as he has been an outstanding Pirate.
“He is a brilliant person and so easy to get along with, and I stress that it is only down to the numbers game.
“I am sure that every Poole fan will want to wish Danny all the best and join me in thanking him for the past two years’ service to the club.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
BERWICK co-owner Jamie Courtney has stressed the importance of the National Development League to the club’s overall model of progression. Courtney also promotes at Oxford and both clubs have been named as definite starters for the NDL once again in 2023.
He said: “While there are still a few issues over Armadale and Mildenhall, and we still very much hope that both sides will come to the tapes in 2023, the continued presence of the other five clubs from last year and the addition of Workington is a big boost to the division.
“Everyone knows that our vision at Berwick – which includes the training track at Duns and the Northern Junior League Academy as well as the Bullets and Bandits – is to provide a pathway for aspiring British riders.
“In just two years we have laid the groundwork and seen Leon (Flint) develop from Bullets captain to Bandits captain and heat-leader, becoming a double British Champion along the way.
“There is some really good talent graduating from the British Youth system at the moment and the NDL plays a big role in moving them into the higher divisions.”
NO PRESSURE ON ZMARZLIK AFTER LATVIAN GP WIN